FEATUREGETTY IMAGES, SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY X2, CLARE KEOGH/UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORKTHE BRAIN CHANGERS2 recommendations, but it will happen in the future.” Some
of the most exciting potential lies in conditions for which
treatment is currently difficult, ineffective or brings unpleasant
side effects. There is some research indicating that microbial
transplants might be of use in people with autism spectrum
disorders (ASD). Arizona State University researchers have
reported that by treating the gastrointestinal problems of
children with ASDs with a transplant of microbes from a
healthy donor, they also brought about improvements in
language skills, social interaction and behaviour.
In the battle against depression, which is triggered by a
complex mix of genetic and environmental factors, probiotics
could provide another weapon. “The effect size is pretty
small for most pha rmaceutical a ntidepressa nts, so t he
evidence so far is that some of these probiotics might do just
as well as the more commonly prescribed drugs, which can
have dangerous side effects,” says Spector. His twin studies
have indicated that, although genes are clearly important in
determining who gets depression, adjusting the microbiome
can help override genetic factors. “That gives me a lot of
optimism,” he says.
There may also be a role for probiotics and prebiotics in
promoting longer-term mental health, even if someone has
had a previous mental health episode. A fascinating trial
by researchers in Baltimore found that giving probiotics to
people discharged from hospital following a ‘manic’ phase
of bipolar disorder significantly reduced their chances of
being re-hospitalised.THE DANGERS OF HYPE
Sadly, we’re unlikely to see any of these treatments very
soon. One problem is that there are currently no dose studies
showing how much of a probiotic you have to take to make
a difference. Another problem, says Spector, is that every
person’s microbiome is different. “That means that one
standard treatment won’t work on everybody, so we may
well end up needing personalised probiotics, which will
be expensive.”IS THIS THE
HAPPINESS DIET?
The ‘Mediterranean diet’, long touted for its heart health
benefits, is now being recommended as a diet that can
make you happy because it encourages a diverse and
healthy gut microbiome.
Scientists and health professionals define the
Mediterranean diet loosely: eating lots of fresh fruit,
vegetables, beans and lentils, nuts, whole grains and olive
oil; occasional fish, chicken, eggs and dairy;
and avoiding red meat, sweets, cakes and biscuits. The
traditional foods of Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, Italy,
Morocco, Portugal and Spain all generally fit the bill.
In October last year, a review of evidence from four large
diet studies involving 36,000 adults from Spain, France, the
United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, concluded
that people who follow this kind of diet have a 33 per cent
lower risk of depression than people who don’t. Separate
research presented to the American Psychiatric Association
this year also suggested that keeping to a Mediterranean
diet protects against depression in later life.
Prof Ted Dinan, principal investigator at the Alimentary
Pharmabotic Centre (APC) at University College Cork, says
the secret of the diet is the diversity of plant products it
introduces into the gut, thus encouraging a wide range of
microbes to thrive there.
The (APC) is currently investigating what happens when
people change to the diet. Early findings are that, in people
who experience improvements in mental health as a result
of going on the Mediterranean diet, there are significant
changes in gut bacteria not apparent in control groups.FRESH FRUIT AND VEG, FISH AND OLIVE OIL“ THERE IS NO QUESTION
THAT A POOR DIET IS
LINKED TO POOR
MENTAL HEALTH”
FEATUREGETTY IMAGES, SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY X2, CLARE KEOGH/UNIVERSITY COLLEGE CORKTHE BRAIN CHANGERS2 recommendations, but it will happen in the future.” Some
of the most exciting potential lies in conditions for which
treatment is currently difficult, ineffective or brings unpleasant
side effects. There is some research indicating that microbial
transplants might be of use in people with autism spectrum
disorders (ASD). Arizona State University researchers have
reported that by treating the gastrointestinal problems of
children with ASDs with a transplant of microbes from a
healthy donor, they also brought about improvements in
language skills, social interaction and behaviour.
In the battle against depression, which is triggered by a
complex mix of genetic and environmental factors, probiotics
could provide another weapon. “The effect size is pretty
small for most pha rmaceutical a ntidepressa nts, so t he
evidence so far is that some of these probiotics might do just
as well as the more commonly prescribed drugs, which can
have dangerous side effects,” says Spector. His twin studies
have indicated that, although genes are clearly important in
determining who gets depression, adjusting the microbiome
can help override genetic factors. “That gives me a lot of
optimism,” he says.
There may also be a role for probiotics and prebiotics in
promoting longer-term mental health, even if someone has
had a previous mental health episode. A fascinating trial
by researchers in Baltimore found that giving probiotics to
people discharged from hospital following a ‘manic’ phase
of bipolar disorder significantly reduced their chances of
being re-hospitalised.
THE DANGERS OF HYPE
Sadly, we’re unlikely to see any of these treatments very
soon. One problem is that there are currently no dose studies
showing how much of a probiotic you have to take to make
a difference. Another problem, says Spector, is that every
person’s microbiome is different. “That means that one
standard treatment won’t work on everybody, so we may
well end up needing personalised probiotics, which will
be expensive.”
IS THIS THE
HAPPINESS DIET?
The ‘Mediterranean diet’, long touted for its heart health
benefits, is now being recommended as a diet that can
make you happy because it encourages a diverse and
healthy gut microbiome.
Scientists and health professionals define the
Mediterranean diet loosely: eating lots of fresh fruit,
vegetables, beans and lentils, nuts, whole grains and olive
oil; occasional fish, chicken, eggs and dairy;
and avoiding red meat, sweets, cakes and biscuits. The
traditional foods of Cyprus, Croatia, Greece, Italy,
Morocco, Portugal and Spain all generally fit the bill.
In October last year, a review of evidence from four large
diet studies involving 36,000 adults from Spain, France, the
United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, concluded
that people who follow this kind of diet have a 33 per cent
lower risk of depression than people who don’t. Separate
research presented to the American Psychiatric Association
this year also suggested that keeping to a Mediterranean
diet protects against depression in later life.
Prof Ted Dinan, principal investigator at the Alimentary
Pharmabotic Centre (APC) at University College Cork, says
the secret of the diet is the diversity of plant products it
introduces into the gut, thus encouraging a wide range of
microbes to thrive there.
The (APC) is currently investigating what happens when
people change to the diet. Early findings are that, in people
who experience improvements in mental health as a result
of going on the Mediterranean diet, there are significant
changes in gut bacteria not apparent in control groups.FRESH FRUIT AND VEG, FISH AND OLIVE OIL“ THERE IS NO QUESTION
THAT A POOR DIET IS
LINKED TO POOR
MENTAL HEALTH”